7 Best New Cars Under $15,000

We Rank the Cheapest New Cars on the Market

It might seem impossible to find a brand-new car for used-car money, but it can be done. These cars tend to be subcompact cars with front-wheel drive and basic features, but they’re generally pretty safe and get decent gas mileage. They’re the ideal cars for commuting across town on surface streets and maneuvering into a tight parking space.

We’ve rounded up seven new cars with starting prices below $15,000 – in some cases far below. Some of them have prices so low you could splash out on a few upgrades and still come in under that price cap. If you really need to keep that pricetag low, you’ll want to know how to drive a manual transmission. An automatic transmission is often an expensive upgrade.

As new information becomes available, we update our scores. Therefore, the rankings mentioned in this slideshow might not match the reviews exactly.

• Read the 2018 Kia Rio Full Review
• See 2018 Kia Rio Photos
• See Subcompact Cars Rankings

7) 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage

$13,395 | U.S. News Overall Score: 5.6/10

The 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage is a real mixed bag. It is very inexpensive, and it performs well in safety tests. A rearview camera, a 7-inch touch screen, and Bluetooth were added as standard equipment this year. The hatchback has quite a bit of room behind the seats, and it’s less expensive than the sedan. The Mirage also has one of the highest fuel economy ratings in the subcompact car class.

However, that thriftiness at the pump comes at the cost of performance. The three-cylinder engine is poky on its best days. The interior is filled with hard plastics, and the back seat is small. It’s possible to choose a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) instead of the five-speed manual transmission and still pay less than $15,000, but the CVT can make the engine noisy when you’re trying to accelerate.

• Read the 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage Full Review
• See 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage Photos
• See Subcompact Cars Rankings

6) 2018 Nissan Versa

$12,110 | U.S. News Overall Score: 6.7/10

The 2018 Nissan Versa is proof of the adage “You get what you pay for.” This is the least expensive new car on the market, and it makes no pretense about being anything else. It has very few standard features.

However, the surprising thing about the Versa is the amount space inside for both people and cargo. There’s plenty of leg- and headroom, even in the rear seats, and the trunk is larger than many others in the class.

Like other subcompacts, the Versa is zippy around town and sluggish on the highway. The list of amenities in the base Versa Sedan S is short: Bluetooth and a four-speaker sound system. Upgrading to the Sedan Plus keeps the price under $15,000 and adds cruise control and a CVT that improves fuel economy by up to 4 mpg over the standard five-speed manual transmission.

• Read the 2018 Nissan Versa Full Review
• See 2018 Nissan Versa Photos
• See Subcompact Cars Rankings

5) 2017 Fiat 500

$14,995 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.5/10

Inexpensive doesn’t have to mean boring. The 2017 Fiat 500 looks like no other vehicle on the road. This subcompact takes its small size seriously. It can maneuver on narrow city streets and in any parking garage, and the 101-horsepower engine is fine for urban driving. But the rear seats are seats in name only, and cargo space is very limited.

The base Pop trim has power-adjustable front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and heated mirrors, which you might not expect for such a low starting price. It also has the Uconnect infotainment system with a 5-inch touch screen and Bluetooth. Other options, such as navigation, can be added individually as your budget allows.

• Read the 2017 FIAT 500 Full Review
• See 2017 FIAT 500 Photos
• See Subcompact Cars Rankings

4) 2018 Chevrolet Spark

$13,050 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.7/10

If you need to get around town on the cheap, the 2018 Chevy Spark can do it. It’s maneuverable in tight spaces and quick to change lanes on arterial surface streets.

However, this car is less appealing when you leave the city. The 98-horsepower engine isn’t quite up to long stretches on the highway, and the light steering feels better when parallel parking than when passing a semi truck.

The interior is pretty small, and power seat adjustments are not available. But the standard infotainment system is top-notch, with a 7-inch touch screen that recognizes gestures you’d use on your phone, a Wi-Fi hot spot, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The base Spark LS is well under $15,000. The Spark 1LT adds cruise control, power windows and locks, keyless entry, and more for $14,875.

• Read the 2018 Chevrolet Spark Full Review
• See 2018 Chevrolet Spark Photos
• See Subcompact Cars Rankings

3) 2018 Hyundai Accent

$14,995 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.0/10

The 2018 Hyundai Accent was completely redesigned for the new model year to bring this familiar model up to date. The cabin is quiet and nicely styled, particularly when you consider the pricetag. It’s also quite roomy, even in the rear seats, and you’ll find plenty of space in the trunk.

The 130-horsepower engine isn’t sporty, but it is more powerful than what you’ll find in other subcompacts. The base Accent SE has a six-speed manual transmission, so to squeak in under $15,000, you have to know how to drive a stick shift. But you do get a rearview camera, Bluetooth, and a 5-inch touch screen with the base trim.

• Read the 2018 Hyundai Accent Full Review
• See 2018 Hyundai Accent Photos
• See Subcompact Cars Rankings

2) 2018 Ford Fiesta

$14,205 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.4/10

Solo commuters might want to check out the 2018 Ford Fiesta. It has sportier driving dynamics than you might expect from a sedan with a price this low, with sharp steering and confident handling. Reliability and safety scores are also good for the 2018 Fiesta.

Passenger and cargo space are on the small side, so piling the family or coworkers into the Fiesta is going to be a tight fit. Amenities in the base S trim include a rearview camera, a 4.2-inch display, and Bluetooth for making phone calls. Be aware that to take advantage of the lowest price, you’ll need to get a five-speed manual transmission and a hand-crank window. Power windows are optional.

• Read the 2018 Ford Fiesta Full Review
• See 2018 Ford Fiesta Photos
• See Subcompact Cars Rankings

1) 2018 Kia Rio

$13,900 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.7/10

The 2018 Kia Rio was completely redesigned this year, so it has a few more standard features than it used to, including power door locks and air conditioning – but not power windows or cruise control. A 5-inch touch screen and satellite radio come with the base LX trim.

The price of the base trim is low enough that you could upgrade a few things and still not reach $15,000. The standard six-speed manual transmission can be replaced by a six-speed automatic for about $1,000, or you could choose the five-door hatchback instead of the sedan for about $300 more.

• Read the 2018 Kia Rio Full Review
• See 2018 Kia Rio Photos
• See Subcompact Cars Rankings

More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

You can learn more about subcompact cars across all price ranges in our subcompact car rankings. We also rank used cars by budget, so you can find more good cars at a price that fits your needs. If you decide to buy a new car, try our Best Price Program to save at the dealership.

7 Best New Cars Under $15,000

• 7) 2018 Mitsubishi Mirage - $13,395 | U.S. News Overall Score: 5.6/10
• 6) 2018 Nissan Versa - $12,110 | U.S. News Overall Score: 6.7/10 
• 5) 2017 Fiat 500 - $14,995 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.5/10
• 4) 2018 Chevrolet Spark - $13,050 | U.S. News Overall Score: 7.7/10
• 3) 2018 Hyundai Accent - $14,995 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.0/10
• 2) 2018 Ford Fiesta - $14,205 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.4/10
• 1) 2018 Kia Rio - $13,900 | U.S. News Overall Score: 8.7/10